Mother Butter's, Just Vino to partner in new venture

By Molly McGowanTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, June 20, 2014 at 5:06 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 20, 2014 at 5:06 p.m.

Sunday will be the last day Mother Butter’s will serve its market-fresh dishes at its downtown Hendersonville location, as restaurant owner and chef Suni McMath closes to pursue a catering operation complementing Just Vino in Flat Rock.

McMath has been a small-business owner for 37 years, and started a tea room-turned-restaurant in Upstate South Carolina 17 years ago. Mother Butter’s relocated to 123 5th Ave. E. in Hendersonville just over a year ago, where McMath has been serving “refined comfort cuisine” to a loyal following.

“We’re a fresh-food kitchen. If I can’t be proud of every plate that goes out the door, then I’m not going to do it,” said McMath. “A little done well is better than a lot done lousy.”

Mother Butter’s fans will still be able to eat McMath’s delicacies after Sunday, just in a different setting.

“We’re going to partner up with Tracy Bridges at Just Vino in Flat Rock,” said McMath. “He’s got such great expertise with the wine (and) I’m going to bring the food expertise to the table.”

“I think our ideas are to start slow and have some events here at Just Vino, but also turn it into a kind of gourmet to-go (location),” Bridges said.

McMath said Just Vino is the perfect location for the partnership, since the space already has a working kitchen that’s not in use.

“We’ve only ever used that for private functions,” Bridges said.

Eventually, the plan is to have on-site catering for wine dinners and special events, as well as a café marketplace area where customers can opt to eat in or take McMath’s food to go.

She hopes to incorporate afternoon teas, pulling from the 70 varieties of tea Mother Butter’s has in stock, and is talking to Bridges about a monthly brunch. McMath will also be able to assist Just Vino with catering at Flat Rock Playhouse, which contracts with the wine shop for beer and wine at both Playhouse locations.

“I’m excited about being able to jump in,” McMath said. “I think the partnership is going to be able to open a lot more doors for both of us.”

Keep track of the local businesses’ merger by checking out the “Mother Butter’s” and “Just Vino” pages on Facebook.

<p>Sunday will be the last day Mother Butter's will serve its market-fresh dishes at its downtown Hendersonville location, as restaurant owner and chef Suni McMath closes to pursue a catering operation complementing Just Vino in Flat Rock.</p><p>McMath has been a small-business owner for 37 years, and started a tea room-turned-restaurant in Upstate South Carolina 17 years ago. Mother Butter's relocated to 123 5th Ave. E. in Hendersonville just over a year ago, where McMath has been serving “refined comfort cuisine” to a loyal following.</p><p>“We're a fresh-food kitchen. If I can't be proud of every plate that goes out the door, then I'm not going to do it,” said McMath. “A little done well is better than a lot done lousy.”</p><p>Mother Butter's fans will still be able to eat McMath's delicacies after Sunday, just in a different setting.</p><p>“We're going to partner up with Tracy Bridges at Just Vino in Flat Rock,” said McMath. “He's got such great expertise with the wine (and) I'm going to bring the food expertise to the table.”</p><p>“I think our ideas are to start slow and have some events here at Just Vino, but also turn it into a kind of gourmet to-go (location),” Bridges said.</p><p>McMath said Just Vino is the perfect location for the partnership, since the space already has a working kitchen that's not in use.</p><p>“We've only ever used that for private functions,” Bridges said.</p><p>Eventually, the plan is to have on-site catering for wine dinners and special events, as well as a café marketplace area where customers can opt to eat in or take McMath's food to go. </p><p>She hopes to incorporate afternoon teas, pulling from the 70 varieties of tea Mother Butter's has in stock, and is talking to Bridges about a monthly brunch. McMath will also be able to assist Just Vino with catering at Flat Rock Playhouse, which contracts with the wine shop for beer and wine at both Playhouse locations.</p><p>“I'm excited about being able to jump in,” McMath said. “I think the partnership is going to be able to open a lot more doors for both of us.”</p><p>Keep track of the local businesses' merger by checking out the “Mother Butter's” and “Just Vino” pages on Facebook.</p><p>Reach McGowan at molly.mcgowan@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7871.</p>